Chris Holmstead is a Canadian bobsleigh brakeman whose athletic journey spans hockey, long‑track speed skating, and ultimately the national bobsleigh program. Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Holmstead grew up on the ice, playing competitive hockey throughout his childhood and early teens. At seventeen, he stepped away from the sport, beginning a multi‑year break from competition. That time away made him realize how much he missed training with purpose, chasing goals, and pushing himself in a high‑performance environment.

Holmstead returned to sport through long‑track speed skating, starting at the club level in Ontario before moving to Calgary to train at the Olympic Oval. Despite entering the sport later than most, he quickly developed as a sprinter, building the power, discipline, and technical skill that would later define his transition to bobsleigh. While training in Calgary, teammates and coaches repeatedly pointed out that his strength and explosive speed made him a natural fit for the bobsleigh start. The idea stuck.

Holmstead attended Alberta push clinics at the Ice House, where he immediately showed potential. He earned an invitation to Team Canada’s bobsleigh training camp, and by the end of the selection process, he secured a spot racing with pilot Cyrus Gray. 

Now based in Calgary, Holmstead competes as a brakeman on the Canadian national bobsleigh team. His rapid rise through the program led to his selection as a men’s alternate for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
 

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